How are the 4AA's they look nice and have a good frequency chart, did they seem specific to highs, mids or lows? I was thinking about getting them for at home use.

I got them ignornatly expecting power and bass since they are built like a tank ,but they are pretty flat. Nothing to get excited about honestly, they are studio monitors and extremely uncomfortable. I figured how could I go wrong with the headphones George Martin used to master Beatles records...I could.

Sigh...just in case you guys decide to completely ignore my advice just like everyone else... here's what other people think about the JVC S500..im telling you, its the best portable set out there for the money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dsnuts

First A/B.

The very new HA-S500

this is the all black version and not the Z gun metal one I have. VS...

V-moda M-80s. I can't argue with the build quality of the tank like M-80s and their sound is more neutral than anything else they have ever made making them a headfi favorite and I was an early adapter when these came out..

So how can a $50 portable compete with the likes of a $200 one? Read on

I have both on my burn station and I paused burn in to do my first A/B against a well established headphone just to see where we are at sound wise. How do the JVCs fare against these V-modas? well ah a better question would be..

Anybody want a pair of V-modas for sale? Lol.

Highs..

HA-S500> M-80. No contest. with more micro details to boot..It is the one area that I thought the M-80s could improve upon and the cheaper HA-S500 is better and much cleaner extended as well.

Mids

HA-S500> M-80. Everyone knows the real aspect of the M-80 sound is their lush mids. Well they kinda failed against the HA-S500. In fact I will go as far as to say I prefer the imaging and a bit more forwardness of the HA-S500 more so than the M-80s. Not only more detailed in the mids but better imagery as well.

Lows.

No contest. The HA-S500 beat the poo out of the M-80 in the sub bass arena. No contest.

Well there you have it. The very first A/B and not one I am happy with as I now have a sub par M-80 that will be collecting dust.

Winner

The sounds on the HA-S500 are much more vivid more detailed extended better and has better bass. What can I say. Oh yea I forgot the sound staging is better on the M-80s as they are a vented design but minus this. They loose.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dsnuts

Ask and Ye shall receive.

2nd A/B. Against one of my all time portable cans the WS55.

These have a solid clean balanced sound with equally a solid bass end..So how does the $50 JVC HA-S500 compare to these $100 WS55?

Interesting. The tuning of these AT comes more closer to the sound on the HA-S500. But here is where the JVCs pull the win

Highs

HA-S500 has the upper hand on the highs. In fact I will go as far as to say these are some of the best highs I have ever heard for a headphone let alone a portable one. While the WS555 has good extension and the highs do a great job with the details. They don't compare to the highs that are on the HA-S500. Much more cleaner sounding with crisp detail on the JVCs while not being too bright or fatiguing in any way..Dare I say almost perfect?

Mids

Mids on the WS55 sound a bit drier vs the vivid lushness of the JVCs. More detail is what I hear for the mids. Much cleaner imagery here as well. .

Lows

Here is where it gets interesting. The WS55 are called solid bass for a reason. They have solid bass impact and extends well on the bass tunes but compared to the JVCs. Not as good. The JVCs extends lower and sounds more textured than the WS55 bass end..

Winner again. The JVC HA-S500. Basically these cheaper HA-S500 are an upgrade to the sound that is on the WS55... Next.. I don't have to A/B against my Cals at all. I already know the winner of that bout. No contest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyloh

These sound nothing like portables. Full size cans quality here.

With burn in, I fear the possibility that my Denon D2000(wood cups) will be collecting dust. No competition here for me. The S500 are a step or two above the Denon in terms of.... everything.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dsnuts

These are definitely an upgrade to the CALs. These blow the doors off the Cals. I own the cals so I can just say it. These blow the doors off the cals.. Better cleaner, better imagery, a complete sound upgrade in every way possible.. Comfort wise. For this sound to be this good using velours. It really don't get too much more comfy for on ears. That being said the stock pads are good but they aren't velours. Comfort especially now is not an issue. Ya I know it will cost more money. If you keep tabs on this thread we will see some cheapo pads that will work just as well. There will be more trials of different pads and how they effect the sound soon.

I mentioned how stage is not great on these but this sound the way it is I don't think can be the same on an open phone.. Sure the sound is more intimate but the resolution on the drivers are so off the charts. Depth is ample on these headphones which actually makes up for the lack of stage. You have to hear them with your best recordings to understand. But these have a depth of sound many headphones lack..I love the imagery on all the JVCs and these are right up there for me. Very excellent..

The Cal sound good enough but the problem with them is. They lack dynamics kinda dull sounding to my ears. The bass end absolutely blows on the Cals. Flabby comes to mind. Can't handle the low lows not even close to these HA-S500s. Cals was good for when they came out but is easily out classed by these.

The way my pair sounds and feels now. Wait till more guys get them for the impressions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dsnuts

$100 Noontec Zoro. I got a PM from BBlord about these. These are getting rave reviews even though they look like beats..Might be worth checking out. Steve Guttenburg says these are more neutral and pic off more detail than the M-80. So does the HA-S500 so it seem we are seeing more advances in sound for your cash.

The tuning on the HA-S500 are superior and has much better control, clarity, imagery, dynamics over the older HA-M750. The HA-S500 are like a newer more refined version of the HA-M750. This is a fine example of the advancements for JVC. The older HA-M750 lean more toward a bassy sound yet don't have the technicalities to pull off the sound right which results in the warmed over veilish sound..The HA-S500 corrects this issue resulting in one of the best musical sounds I have heard not only not lacking in any part of the sound but excelling at it.

Sigh...just in case you guys decide to completely ignore my advice just like everyone else... here's what other people think about the JVC S500..im telling you, its the best portable set out there for the money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dsnuts

$100 Noontec Zoro. I got a PM from BBlord about these. These are getting rave reviews even though they look like beats..Might be worth checking out. Steve Guttenburg says these are more neutral and pic off more detail than the M-80. So does the HA-S500 so it seem we are seeing more advances in sound for your cash.

The tuning on the HA-S500 are superior and has much better control, clarity, imagery, dynamics over the older HA-M750. The HA-S500 are like a newer more refined version of the HA-M750. This is a fine example of the advancements for JVC. The older HA-M750 lean more toward a bassy sound yet don't have the technicalities to pull off the sound right which results in the warmed over veilish sound..The HA-S500 corrects this issue resulting in one of the best musical sounds I have heard not only not lacking in any part of the sound but excelling at it.

WOW! you are really convicing me to get those! The look ok.. how good do they islolate?

Sigh...just in case you guys decide to completely ignore my advice just like everyone else... here's what other people think about the JVC S500..im telling you, its the best portable set out there for the money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dsnuts

$100 Noontec Zoro. I got a PM from BBlord about these. These are getting rave reviews even though they look like beats..Might be worth checking out. Steve Guttenburg says these are more neutral and pic off more detail than the M-80. So does the HA-S500 so it seem we are seeing more advances in sound for your cash.

The tuning on the HA-S500 are superior and has much better control, clarity, imagery, dynamics over the older HA-M750. The HA-S500 are like a newer more refined version of the HA-M750. This is a fine example of the advancements for JVC. The older HA-M750 lean more toward a bassy sound yet don't have the technicalities to pull off the sound right which results in the warmed over veilish sound..The HA-S500 corrects this issue resulting in one of the best musical sounds I have heard not only not lacking in any part of the sound but excelling at it.

WOW! you are really convicing me to get those! The look ok.. how good do they islolate?